Yardley Restaurant Owner Indicted On Human Trafficking Charge

YARDLEY, PA — The owner of a Yardley-area Chinese restaurant has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of human trafficking.

Chin Pang Liu, 48, of Lawrence Township, N.J., was indicted on charges including one count of first-degree human trafficking, one count of second-degree false contract payment claims, one count of third-degree insurance fraud, three counts of third-degree filing a fraudulent return and two counts of first-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity.

Liu owns Golden China restaurant, at 119 Floral Vale Blvd. That's off of Stony Hill Road, not far from Shady Brook Farm and Interstate 295.

Liu was one of three people arrested in November 2018 after a two-year investigation into money laundering, tax evasion, prostitution and human trafficking.

Also charged were Dong Teng, 45, and Yonglian Liu, 34.

Teng owns Anna Nails and Massage on Brunswick Pike in Lawrence. Yonglian Liu was an employee of Chin Pang Liu.

RELATED: 3 Busted In Prostitution Ring At Lawrence Restaurants, Spa: Cops

Prosecutors say people were transported to work at Liu's restaurants for less than minimum wage. He also owns Fusion House restaurant in Lawrence, N.J.

"This is classic case of people being isolated, exploited and trapped in a forced-labor situation," said Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri, at the time of the arrests last year. "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to rescue these vulnerable victims and ensure human traffickers face strict punishment."

The investigation began in September 2016 when Lawrence Township police received a tip from a resident regarding many people living in a home there. The home was owned by Chin Pang Liu. Police reached out to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Economic Crime Unit (ECU).

During the investigation, authorities said they saw numerous men and women going back and forth between the Lawrence Township home and the restaurants in Lawrence and Yardley. Chin Pang Liu is accused of transporting workers back and forth.

Detectives also learned that those who were living in the house were illegally employed by Liu. They were being paid less than minimum wage without that income being reported or taxed, and full-time employees received no benefits, according to authorities. Liu bought and provided the cars that transported the employees back and forth.

Yonglian Liu was a frequent patron of the spa, according to authorities. He was often seen taking cash from the spa to Golden China Restaurant. Detectives determined that the restaurant and spa were sites used in a prostitution ring.

During the execution of a search warrant at Liu's home, detectives said they seized $50,000 in U.S. currency. Liu reported an income of $100,000 for 2016, according to authorities. Financial documents and cash seized during the execution of the search warrants confirmed that Liu failed to report a majority of his income.

The human trafficking charge is a first-degree offense, carrying a sentence of 20 years without parole to life in prison and a fine of up to $200,000 if convicted.

Patch's Anthony Bellano contributed to this report.